Lifeguard in East Meadow, Long Island helps safe scholarships to fund classes for younger swimmers

EAST MEADOW, Long Island (WABC) — A younger swimmer on Long Island helped safe scholarships that fund classes for different younger swimmers, to allow them to be taught priceless life abilities to remain secure within the pool and keep cool within the warmth.

On a scorching sizzling day at Veterans Memorial Park in East Meadow, there is not any place higher than the pool, however for 16-year-old Hempstead lifeguard Jace Owens, at the present time is even sweeter.

“He’s really nice. And I really appreciate what he did,” mentioned 8-year-old Selene Fernandez, who thanked Owens.

Fernandez is getting free swimming classes at this pool due to Owens, who helps her face her fears.

“What goes through my mind is like if I drown and something happens to me, nobody notices,” Fernandez mentioned.

Owens will get it as a result of at that age he, too, needed to be taught some fairly powerful life classes. He struggled a bit within the water again then, realizing a few of his kinfolk from the Caribbean had drowned.

“At first, it was interesting because he kind of flailed, and it was a little difficult for him to feel comfortable. Once he did, though, it was almost like a second home for him,” mentioned Owens’ mom, Natasha Owens.

Now, Owens is a aggressive swimmer getting into his senior yr at Baldwin High School, however he hasn’t forgotten the little children like Selene from his elementary faculty, who might not have entry to classes.

“I decided that maybe it should be a scholarship thing, where students would be able to write about their love for water safety,” Owens mentioned.

He reached out to the muse Stew Leonard and his spouse began within the title of their 21-month-old son, who had drowned, to see if they’d fund the scholarships, and so they did, citing Owens’ potential to “make waves.”

“Not only your compassion for wanting to save a life through swimming, but your hustle, baby, I love that,” Stew Leonard mentioned.

Owens informed Eyewitness News that he believes each baby has a proper to really feel secure within the water, and so, as mother and father, if we’re watching them, we’d like fewer distractions. Put down your cellphones, and do not get distracted by socializing.

For Fernandez, these classes are a present that may preserve giving.

“She wanted to learn so that she can help me with her brother, if they’re in the water,” mentioned Fernandez’s mom, Caroline Fernandez.

For Owens, it is a full-circle second.

“It’s a life skill,” he mentioned.

And probably a lifesaver.

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